According to Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), the Air Force and NASA have agreed to a 50-year-lease that will allow the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing to continue using Moffett Federal Airfield as its base of operations for the next 50 years. In a Feb. 3 statement, Eshoo said, “At long last the unit known for taking care of others is being taken care of with a permanent home in the heart of Silicon Valley.” She noted that this is the first long-term agreement for the wing and would afford its airmen “much deserved stability.” (Also see The Mercury News report)
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.